Research Guides: Doing Oral History on a Shoestring: Archiving

Created by UO Libraries & OSU Libraries

Archiving

Locks of Copies Keep Stuff Safe

LOTS
OF
COPIES
KEEP
STUFF
SAFE

This is a basic rule of thumb for digital preservation and can be applied in many different ways, including the creation of analog derivatives (i.e., paper transcripts) from digital originals (i.e., digital audio or video recordings). It's a way of ensuring backups not a strict science.

Why is LOCKSS important?

The LOCKSS approach provides a guiding principle for tackling what is probably the thorniest issue facing archives in the 21st century – how best to preserve materials that cannot be placed in a box and set on a shelf?
If you really want to preserve a record, carving it in stone is a great option. The further one gets away from that approach, the more fragile the item becomes.
LOCKSS seeks to address the problem by advocating for the deposit of many copies in many different locations.

Don't worry about perfection!

Suggested LOCKSS Actions for Cultural Organizations

Here is some advice for approaching LOCKSS

Step 1	Step 2	Step 3
Place your digital files in one or more cloud locations (Google Drive, Dropbox, Box). Make sure that multiple project staff and/or archives staff know that these cloud locations exist, and that they have permission to access them.	In addition to the cloud, store multiple copies of your digital files on multiple pieces of physical media. Well-labeled external hard drives are a good option. Make sure that their existence and locations are documented in your project log. If possible, keep each set of hard drives in a physical different location.	It’s fine to keep a copy on your computer, but this should be viewed as a secondary copy at best. (Your computer is generally more at risk than is an external hard drive.) Partner with an outside organization to “host” copies of your data. This could include an archive or historical society to whom you would donate a set of your files (either transferred via the cloud or donated on physical media).

Physical Transcripts are part of LOCKSS too!

If you are transcribing your content, consider donating bound paper copies to your local library. This will help with access and can be viewed as a preservation activity as well!
Paper records are inherently more durable than are digital files.
Libraries are comfortable working with paper materials and will have systems in place to describe them and provide access.
These materials can be cataloged into your local libraries system, and also added to larger community-networked catalogs.